Carnatic Violin


The violin was first known in 16th-century Italy, with some further modifications occurring in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Europe it served as the basis for stringed instruments used in western classical music, the viola and the violin. Violinists and collectors particularly prize the instruments made by the Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati families from the 16th to the 18th century in Brescia and Cremona and by Jacob Stainer in Austria.  Baluswami Dikshitar, brother of renowned Karnatic Composer Muthuswami Dikshitar, learned the instrument from the military bandmaster in Madras and adapted his playing style to suit Karnatic Music.